IRIA News

4 minute read

Intense Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip resulted in the deaths of at least 35 Palestinians, including women and children, on April 19, 2025. The Gaza Civil Defense Agency reported that these fatalities occurred in various locations, with a significant incident involving a drone strike in eastern Rafah that killed five civilians.

Israeli airstrikes battered the Gaza Strip, targeting homes, tents for displaced families, and gatherings of civilians. The attacks were reported across multiple locations, including Gaza City, Khan Younis, Deir al-Balah, and Rafah, intensifying what many observers describe as a relentless and devastating military campaign.

In Khan Younis alone, 19 people lost their lives in four separate strikes, among them women and children sheltering in temporary tents. In Gaza City’s Al-Tuffah neighborhood, airstrikes flattened a home on Yaffa Street, leaving several dead and injured.

Similar deadly assaults were reported in Deir Al Balah and refugee camps in central Gaza. Artillery shelling in Rafah also killed two civilians and destroyed residential buildings. With these latest casualties, Gaza’s death toll since October 2023 has exceeded 51,000, most of them women and children.

Renewed offensive and rising casualties

Since the beginning of the renewed offensive last month, Israeli forces have conducted extensive air and ground operations, targeting over 1,400 sites within Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that these actions have resulted in the deaths of at least 1,827 Palestinians since March 18.

The cumulative death toll since the conflict’s inception now exceeds 51,200, with over 116,800 individuals injured. These figures underscore the severe humanitarian impact on the civilian population, many of whom are women and children.​

Israel’s stance

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continue military operations until “Hamas is dismantled and all hostages are released.” In a recent statement, Netanyahu emphasized the necessity of patience and determination to achieve these objectives, rejecting any proposals from Hamas that include ending the war or withdrawing Israeli troops from Gaza.​

The conflict’s escalation is partly attributed to the unresolved hostage situation stemming from Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023, which resulted in 1,218 Israeli deaths and the abduction of 251 individuals. Currently, 58 hostages remain in Gaza, with the Israeli military indicating that 34 of them are deceased. Efforts to negotiate their release have been complicated by Hamas’s demands for a permanent ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal, conditions that the Israeli government has deemed unacceptable.​

International reactions and humanitarian concerns

The international community has expressed growing concern over the escalating violence and its impact on civilians. Pope Francis, during his Easter address, called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation and condemning the rising antisemitism associated with the conflict.

Additionally, the United Nations and various humanitarian organizations have reported significant challenges in delivering aid and providing medical assistance due to the ongoing hostilities.​

Investigation into civilian casualties

In a related development, the Israeli military has acknowledged operational failures in a March 23 incident where 15 humanitarian workers, including members of the Red Crescent and a UN staffer, were killed in Rafah.

The military’s internal investigation cited misidentification and breaches of protocol as contributing factors, leading to disciplinary actions against several officers. This admission has intensified scrutiny over Israel’s military conduct and adherence to international humanitarian law.​

The situation in Gaza remains volatile, with continued military operations exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The high civilian death toll and destruction of infrastructure have drawn international condemnation and calls for renewed diplomatic efforts to achieve a sustainable ceasefire.

As the conflict persists, the prospects for peace and stability in the region remain uncertain, with the civilian population bearing the brunt of the hostilities.